Easy CHICKEN TACOS While Camping in Mendocino National Forest | RAV4 TRD Overland

A quick one-night camping trip in Mendocino National Forest. We explored forest roads until we found a perfect campsite, then cooked some delicious chicken tacos on the Tembo Tusk.
Gear:
GoPro Hero9: amzn.to/3gN27FU
Folding Table: amzn.to/3j3evDp
Tembo Tusk cooking system: amzn.to/3qhWseg
Luminoodle Light: amzn.to/3wNYAgj
Dometic Fridge: amzn.to/3gNF1z7
Dometic PLB40 Battery: amzn.to/3wQbLNR

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Just realized it has been almost exactly 1 year since we posted our first youtube video ever. Thank you everyone who has followed along & watched our videos!

[@Ceehvee]

Happy anniversary! Looking forward to more adventures from you two :-)

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Move videos to come soon! Thanks for watching!

[@BethanyBarba14]

Love watching y’all’s viedo!! You guys inspire me! Thank you for sharing your adventures

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thank you so much! That is our goal: to inspire others to get out & explore. Thank you for watching!

[@yeonsmsj]

IKAMPER made it in Korea, but I was hesitant to buy it because it was expensive here, but watching the video makes me want to buy it.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

the iKamper is awesome! We have had it mounted to the RAV4 for 2 full years without ever taking it off. Spent around 50 nights in the tent and still love it!

[@dougoverhoff7568]

That 'river' you camped by, was it by any chance Cache Creek? Nice spot, BTW.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

North Fork Cache Creek, near Indian Valley Reservoir.

[@segifredoinguanzo3317]

Looks like another great trip.. planning on heading that way soon from the bay area, did you go on from the Clearlake side or Indian valley reservoir side?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

For this trip we entered on the North side of Clear Lake, and drove through to Indian Valley Reservoir. Much of the forest just north of Clear Lake is burned from fires last year, but near Indian Valley Reservoir was beautiful. Next time we'll enter from that side.

[@segifredoinguanzo3317]

@@LunarLanderXplor thanks for the reply!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

There is also SO MUCH to explore further up north. If you check out our other video on Mendocino National Forest Overlanding, we did a 3 night camping trip north of Lake Pillsbury. We went up Hull Mountain Road, and had a great time out there. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKmkoIuufceqaNk

[@brinselyseven5530]

Great videos! Some of the drone footage you had at the beginning as you drove along a creek, were you on Goat Mountain rd? I've been using Google maps, but, it's hard to tell if the creek is significantly lower than the rd. Your video really helps my research. We are driving up from Southern CA in July and are really looking forward to seeing MNF. Keep up the great content!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Thanks!! For this trip, we were mostly on Barlett Springs Road. You can access the road near Indian Valley Reservoir. There are a ton of dispersed campsites around. Hit us up on IG if you want some GPS coordinates for other spots in MNF! @lunar_lander_xplor

[@brinselyseven5530]

@@LunarLanderXplor Thank you so much for that info, that is awesome of you!

[@HotSizzleTV_]

I have to ask your intro is so amazing, what do you use, for your camera following your suv and at the top of the mountain to is it a drone ? I always wanted to know how everyone does this. Thanks your videos rock 🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We film all the aerial footage with a DJI Mavic 2 Zoom drone. It is amazing

[@zerokool-2058]

Nice!!! Everything looks great. How much of a lift do you have on your RAV4? And which lift did you use? And did you add springs? Size tires? Sorry I ask all this. But been looking to go explore with my girlfriend on the RAV4 and don’t see much videos out there. Great video.!!!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We have a 2.5" spacer lift (rough country) + stiffer rear coils. Our tires & wheels are the stock ones that come with the TRD version of the RAV4. We will upgrade this summer, but so far the stock All Terrain tires have been pretty good!

[@zerokool-2058]

@@LunarLanderXplor thanks so much. Stiffer rear coils make it so the back is more stable ? Can’t wait to see what’s next.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We got the stiffer coils to offset the rear end of the car sagging when full of camping gear. Previously we were losing ground clearance in the back due to the weight of our tent, fridge, camping supplies, etc. Now with the new coils the back is lifted even when carrying a lot of weight.

[@zerokool-2058]

@@LunarLanderXplor Ohh okay.. that’s cool. I may have to look at that at some point as well.

[@DavidRodriguez-ol7hm]

What’s the name to that “flat top” you guys used for cooking? I have a small flat top. But I like how yours has the stand.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Its called a Skottle, made by Tembo Tusk: tembotusk.com/collections/cooking-and-accessories/products/tembotusk-adjustable-leg-skottle-grill-kit It is amazing. We have cooked basically all our camping meals on it for the past year and a half.

[@DavidRodriguez-ol7hm]

@@LunarLanderXplor thank you!

[@gfloo__]

What's the name of the table you guys are using? You should consider posting links to the gear you use.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We were using the King Camp table from Amazon, but since recording this video we got a new table that is similar but folds up to be smaller: www.rei.com/product/159024/mountain-summit-gear-heavy-duty-roll-top-table-large

[@Carmador]

Hey I’m in the Bay Area and just getting into overlanding. Can you do a “top overlanding spots” video? I’ve only been to Mendocino National Forrest.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Yea, good idea! Maybe we'll make that video later this year. There are a ton of great spots near(ish) to the Bay Area (we are in Oakland). Most of the National Forests (Tahoe NF, Mendocino NF, Stanislaus NF, El Dorado NF, etc.) are open for dispersed camping and have networks of forest roads to explore.

[@Carmador]

@@LunarLanderXplor screen shotting your reply for my next trip! Thanks! Subbed!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Awesome! Yea check out some of our other videos. Most of the places we have documented are close(ish) to the Bay. Only our Utah trip was kinda far away, but everything else we have documented is within a few hours.

[@eloynunez5437]

Do you have a link of all the places that you have been to with GPS coordinates

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We have been to so many spots! Many of which we remember, and some of which we have saved the GPS coordinates for. I can certainly share the regions we go to, but to find the best spots you will have to explore :)

[@clydra2978]

Where does your dog normally stay during the car rides?

[@LunarLanderXplor]

She sits on one of the back seats. We have a seatbelt and a blanket so she just chills back there.

[@gilbertogonzalez8274]

Hello ,en esa tienda de coche no entra nada de polvo? Por cierto quiero comprar ese coche y veo que buen 4x4

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Lo siento, no hablo español. pero el RAV4 es un buen vehículo de aventura. No es un verdadero 4x4 como un jeep o un 4runner, pero es ideal para senderos todoterreno más fáciles.

[@gilbertogonzalez8274]

@@LunarLanderXplor perfecto yo ahora tengo Opel antara que es parecido al RAV4 pero más viejo y Tiro con caravana y voy por pistas también,me gustan vuestros.videos porque es aventura y libertad de vida enhorabuena.

[@whitelabellt]

Do you ever drive the Rav4 without your gear and RTT? I'm wondering how the vehicle drives in everyday normal conditions with your RC lift and Dendoff springs.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We keep the rooftop tent on full-time, so we have not driven without the RTT since getting the lift & stiffer springs installed. When we have no gear in the trunk, it is a bit stiffer compared to when we are loaded up for a camping trip.

[@whitelabellt]

@@LunarLanderXplor You had the same gear and RTT before the lift/springs upgrade, right? I'm assuming you were using the stock springs. What was your experience driving the Rav4 with all that gear on stock springs? I need my vehicle for everyday driving so I am hesitant in choosing the Dendoff springs. I was thinking of going with Eibach springs to keep a pleasant driving experience, but have the ability to load gear and RTT when I need to and not have extreme sag.

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Yes we did have the RTT and gear before the Dendoff springs & lift were installed. Driving was totally fine normally, but there was a lot of sag in the rear (check out our videos from Utah to see what I mean). For everyday driving this was fine, but for off roading we were losing ground clearance in the back which was an issue for us. Now, with the Dendoff springs installed, I still use the car as a daily driver and it is fine. A bit stiffer than the stock springs, but really not an issue. We do have the RTT on full time, so that does add weight. Prior to adding the Dendoff springs & lift, we did have the RTT on the car for about a year and still went camping & off roading. It is possible, but there will be sag & less ground clearance in the rear. Before the lift upgrades, we measured about 7" ground clearance due to the sagging rear, and now we are at about 10" minimum.

[@whitelabellt]

@@LunarLanderXplor One last question for you... When you did the upgrades, did you put the rough country lift front and back or just back? Did you keep the stock TRD springs in the front? I'm just wondering why your rear looks like it has greater than 2.5" lift. Thanks for all the info! Love your videos!

[@LunarLanderXplor]

We have the Rough Country lift both front & back, and the RNOFIT coils are only in the rear. We still have the TRD coils up front. The extra lift in the back is helpful since we carry so much weight on our trips.

[@zerokool-2058]

How do you find these places??

[@LunarLanderXplor]

Gaia GPS, Google Maps, and just getting out there and exploring! Our favorite spots have been found by just driving around the forest roads and exploring.

[@zerokool-2058]

@@LunarLanderXplor Thank you. I keep enjoying the videos. Can’t wait to go out an explore.